Kolkata, November 03, 2016: A forum of Muslim organisations in West Bengal on Thursday opposed any interference by the government in matters of religious practices, including the triple talaq, saying it was a subject governed by personal law.

The newly-formed forum, comprising 40 religious organisations, also said it will hold a public meeting on November 8 here to press for its several demands including higher honorarium to Imams and muezzins.

“We believe enforcement of new norms on a specific religion or religious group is an attack on India’s sovereignty. Central government should not have intervened or commented on century old Muslim practises,” said Forum convener Mohammad Kamaruzzuman about the government’s move to oppose the practice of triple talaq before the Supreme Court.

Calling it unconstitutional and gender discriminatory, the centre’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has called for abolishing the practice.

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About the November 8 public meeting, Kamaruzzuman said the forum will raise the issues of protection from interference to Muslim personal laws, as well as increase in the honorarium for clerics.

Alleging that the state government paid honorarium to around 55,000 imams and muezzins in the state was paltry, the forum said they would demand at least three times hike.

“The Trinamool Congress government pays honorarium of Rs 2,500 to the clerics, which hasn’t increased in the last five years. We would demand an honorarium of Rs 10,000 for the Imams and Rs 7,000 for the muezzins,” he said. (IANS)

The IIF has sought to put in place the guidelines for the implementation of the law at all levels. Wikimedia Commons

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the NGO Initiative for Inclusion Foundation (IIF) to give suggestions for effective implementation of a law to curb sexual harassment of women at workplaces, particularly in the private sector.

Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A. M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud sought the suggestions after the Central government in its affidavit claimed that it has taken steps to enforce the Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

Appearing for the IIF, senior counsel Sanjay Parikh said there was no implementation of the law in private companies.